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PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, November 25. In the Legislative Council to-day, after some small preliminary business, and an hour’s discussion on the petition of Mr. Jackson, late Surveyor-General, Mr Chamberlain brought forward his motion—“ That all fencing laws should be abolished,” asserting that the common law of England was sufficient. The discussion was however adjourned. The,Council sat from four to five hoars in Committee on the Qualification of Electors Bill, and, on adjourning at a late hoar most of the clauses had been disposed of as amended. • At the evening sitting, the remaining damps of the Qualification of Electors Bill were passed through Committee, and the Bill was ordered for the third reading. It will he recommitted on Thursday. ■The Protection of Animals Act Amendment Bill was thrown out on the voices. The Council ruse at 8.55 p. m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

‘ Tuesday, Nov. 25. The following is the division list on the ' no-confidence amendment, taken at 4 a.m. , morning. The question was put that tm» House resolve itself into Committee of Supply : Ayes, 17—Messrs Atkinson, Bowen, Colbeck, Driver, Gibbs, Hirst, H., Hurst, W. J. (teller), M'Caughan, M'Lean (teller), Oliver, Holies ton, Seymour, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Trimble, Wakefield. . Noes, 6—Messrs George (teller), Harris, Lundon, Moss, Shephard, Stewart (teller). AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. PETITION. Mr Stewart presented petitions from ' Otago against the duty on tobacco. QUESTIONS. The questions set down in the Order f Paper. Wbre, on the application of the ; Htm. J, Hall, postponed until to-morrow. ORDER OF BUSINESS. • On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, ; Sit George Grey suggested that other : business should be gone on with, so as to idlqw the proposals of Government to be ; more fully understood by the country. The Hbn. J. Hall said that these proJ posals had been before the country for sometime, and after the disposal of the motion on the subject discussed on the "previous evening. Government could see no reason whatever for further postponement. DISTRICT NORTH OP AUCKLAND. V ; Mr; Lundon moved—‘“That a sum of £30,000 be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for public works proposed to be Mined out north of the City of Auckland, ' ‘ the expenditure to be entrusted to each'of the County Councils interested. ” * , Mr Lundon agreed to withdraw the motion, which was assented to.

' ' ( , THE COASTING TRADE. MrMosa ipoyed—“ That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that foreign 'Teasels striving in New Zealand ports 'jut. ; be allowed' .to engage in the coasting trade, but should be confined to the discharge of original cargo At such port or ports as they may desire, and to the loading at such port or ports ; that the 'Coasting Trade and Regulations Act, 1871/ be amended accordHon. Major Atkinson promised , that thesubjectwould beattended to during the receas. It was a large question, and ought not to be rushed through in a hurry. He suggested that in the meantime the motion should be withdrawn. The motion was put, and lost on the voices.

COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The House then resolved itself into

. Committee of Supply. The Postmaster-General and Commis--1 sioner of Telegraphs "Vote, chief offices and sub-offices, £43,B6l—was passed. Conveyance of mails by sea—£6B,slo — The particulars of the vote were as ■ follows :—Contingencies, bonuses and gratuities, £2500; Chatham Islands

made to thtj that, tip. djipa.rfciqc,iu thought it fi-nly 'fair fliat it should bo credited with these sums, ia order to show the net earnings. The Hon. E. Richardson objected to such an arrangement, as it only complicated accounts.

Mr. Macandrow argued that it was important that the full value of the railway system of the Colony should appear in the accounts.

On a division, the vote as printed was passed. Postal contingencies Telegraphic Department, £110,668. In. explaining the vote, the Hon. J. Hall stated that Government had determined to do away with the system of paying overtime to operators, and to provide for extra work, the staff would be increased and the hours of attendance also increased. Mr. Shrimski reminded them that a memorial on the subject was now before the House, and lie suggested that the disposal of the vote should be considered in conjunction with that memorial, Mr. George moved—“ That the item be reduced by 5 per cent., making a deduction of £4155.”

Mr. Lundon suggested that the operators should be changed about from place to place, at least every two years. That was necessary for the maintenance of secrecy. Mr. Reeves supported the suggestion, but would make the term of residence in any one place one instead of two years. He would suggest that the vote should be increased instead of diminished.

Mr. Macandrew suggested that the telegraphic forms should be printed, and a better description of paper employed. Mr. Turnbull suggested that in the case of persons requiring the establishment of new stations at any particular place, they should be required to guarantee any deficiency in the working expenses. A plan of that kind would be the means of preventing demands not necessary in the public interest. Mr. Dick said that the new system of not paying overtime would have the the effect of reducing salaries from £4O to £3O. He thought that unfair. The arrangements were otherwise unsatisfactory. Good men were kept at small salaries in the large towns, and inferior hands were drafted off to the country districts, where other offices were given them besides that of telegraphists. It was the worst paid department in the public service. Mr. George pointed out that there was a large increase this as compared with last year. The vote as printed was passed. Subsidy to Eastern Extension and China Telegraph Company, for Australian cable, £SOO ; contingent subsidy, £450 ; proportion of subsidy under duplicate cable contract, £2OOO. These votes were passed. Education, £242,715 ; public libraries, £SOOO ; Native schools, £15,399. The Hon. W. Rolleston spoke in favor of a free system of education. The cost per head was £4 Bs, which compared favorably with the other colonies where the free system had been adopted. Provision had been made for the establishment of a deaf and dumb institution. A person to take charge of it was on his road from England, and it was the intention of Government to establish it on a satisfactory footing. For that purpose a further vote would be asked for a building, and on the arrival of the master in New Zealand steps would be taken for its erection.

The Hon. W. Gisborne said that the colony aimed at a high standard of education at public cost. The country was bound to furnish elementary education, but not the higher standards. At present the colony was providing education as good as that provided for the best families at home. If it went on much longer the whole education system would have to be sacrificed, and in the matter of higher education some contribution from the parties obtaining it should be got. Mr. Turnbull moved that the item be reduced by £5.C00. The amendment was lost, and the vote as printed put and carried. The House adjourned shortly before 2, after voting the estimates for the Justice Department without alteration.

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